The Rangers also finalized a $15.25 million, five-year contract with All-Star third baseman Hank Blalock. The deal includes a club option for a sixth year.

Okay, okay, it's not like he was going to be a FA anytime soon. Still, this means no arbitration, no contract distractions, and this also makes him unlikely to be traded. If he continues to produce and - dare I say it - improve, $3 million dollars a year is a damn good bargain.

"The game has a cleanness. If you do a good job, the numbers say so. You don't have to ask anyone or play politics. You don't have to wait for the reviews." - Sandy Koufax

"...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns--the ones we don't know we don't know."

wrveres wrote:"...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns--the ones we don't know we don't know."

wrveres, what the hell are you talking about. Happy hour must have came early tonight.

There will come a day when Barry Bonds leaves baseball, and everything about the game will be the better for it.

wrveres wrote:"...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns--the ones we don't know we don't know."